LAKE COMO ELOPEMENT GUIDE

HOW TO GET MARRIED IN LAKE COMO

I love elopements and small intimate weddings.
I can be in real empathy with my couples and the story I will photograph will be part of my life!

I will give you my energy, experience, resource and knowledge I have gained over 12 years as wedding and elopement photographer in Lake Como.

Please ask! I love to be part of every moment of the day.

I know incredible locations in Lake Como, like Varenna, Villa del Balbianello, Villa d’Este, Bellagio , the fantastic Grand Hotel Tremezzo is like a movie set for an elopement. I love the hidden streets of the Italian villages and look for the best places for a romantic shooting.

I have a full list of partners (friends!) like officiants, florists, makeup artists that I love to work with!

But let’s dive in with the Lake Como Elopement Guide!

---

 

---

LAKE COMO ELOPEMENT LOCATIONS

Lake Como is the most elegant lake in Italy, the mountains are so close that you can touch them from the water.
The sunset is particular, the light is warm and the micro-clima is unique here. Its historical Grand Hotels and Villas are pieces of art overlooking the lake.
During the night, you can hear, from the balcony of Grand Hotel Tremezzo, literally the sound of silence. The water is so calm and the boats pass through very smoothly.

HOTEL & WEDDING VENUES IN LAKE COMO

VILLA D’ESTE – CERNOBBIO

Villa d’ Este is the state of the art in Lake Como, wonderful position, one most celebrated resort in the world.
The garden has the most harmonious and evocative examples of Baroque scenography in Italy.

GRAND HOTEL TREMEZZO – TREMEZZINA

In Grand Hotel Tremezzo you can relive the glory years of the Belle Époque. It’s a historical Palace with incredible gardens and services.
The legacy of Gualtiero Marchesi owns and runs the kitchen of the hotel. I highly recommend giving it a try!
An elopement in Grand Hotel Tremezzo is a unique experience, the ceremony is held in the wonderful gardens and the interiors of the hotel give us so many inspirations for our photography.

VILLA CIPRESSI – VARENNA

Villa Cipressi in Varenna is a gem. An intimate and romantic location, it’s perfect for an elopement or a small wedding.
There are three terraces overlooking the lake where to locate the ceremony and the dinner with one of the best positions in Lake Como for enjoying the sunset.
The Botanical Garden is great for unique photos with Italian gardens style as background.

GRAND HOTEL VILLA SERBELLONI – BELLAGIO

Another prestigious historic hotel in the area. Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni stands out the competition for it’s incredible position. From Bellagio you can reach the most iconic places in Lake Como in a few minutes by boat.
The garden and terrace are perfect for a celebration and the elegance of the main hall is something regal!

LAKE COMO BEAUTIFUL LOCATIONS

VILLA DEL BALBIANELLO – LENNO

Villa del Balbianello has a unique location, it’s located on the tip of the small wooded peninsula and the point of view is awesome.
The particularity is that from the loggia you have two different panoramas of the lake.
Many directors chose the villa as location for their movies including A Month by the Lake (1995), His Demise starring Paul Zukowski (2016 disaster movie), Casino Royale (2006). The villa was also used for the lake retreat scenes in Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones (2002), with computer-generated imagery used in place of the building’s true exterior.

GIARDINI DI VILLA MELZI – BELLAGIO

Bellagio has many places and location that are great for an elopement or a photoshoot.
After a walk through the beautiful stairs of the italian village you can discover Villa Melzi and its gardens.
Inside the park you can find marble statues, ancient trees, the elegant Villa Melzi and a Japanese themed corner.
You can spend hours in this beautiful location.

VARENNA – OLD LAKE COMO ITALIAN VILLAGE

Varenna is my preferred typical italian village in lake Como. I shoot so many elopements here that I know every corner of this beautiful place.
Simple to reach by boat or by car (there is a big parking area) in Varenna you can start from the center walking through the stairs and small streets that at every turn you can see the lake coming out under the arches of small marinas.
After 10 minutes walking you arrive in the old historical part of Varenna, where the fish-men founded the village hundreds years ago.
Here there are small restaurants, local artisan shops, and a red bridge with a walkway overlooking the lake.
Let me show you this fantastic small gem of the lake.

 

---

BEST TIME TO VISIT LAKE COMO

Como Lake has incredibly enjoyable temperatures and the Mediterranean sun. It’s surrounded by mountains and its climate is mild and constant.

The water absorbs the sun’s heat during the summer and release it only during the winter.

So in these particular conditions, winters are milder and summers are cooler than the regions of the same altitude and latitude.

May, September and early October are my preferred month, not just for the temperatures but for the warm and romantic light the the lake and the mountains give us!

---

AIRBNB’S IN LAKE COMO

See my Wishlist here!

---

HOW TO GET LAKE COMO

By Air:

Malpensa Airport
This is the hub of Italy, you can reach Malpensa from all over the world and it has premium and affordable transfers to the Center of Milan or Lake Como.
The lake is 45 minutes by car from Malpensa. (Map)

Linate Airport
Linate Airport is close to the center of Milan, if you want to stop by this incredible city famous for its fashion shops and nightlife Linate could be the best choice.
The lake is 55 minutes by car from Linate. (Map)

Milano Bergamo Airport
Milano Bergamo Airport is smaller if compared to Malpensa or Linate but here land all the low-cost flight companies and there are cheap transfers to Milan city centre every 30 minutes.
The lake is 65 minutes by car from Milano Bergamo (Map)

By Car

The traffic is not a problem in this area, but could be difficult to find parking. Most hotels and villas has a parking area reserved for the clients.
It’s great to explore the surrounding area by car, you can stop by the villages and have a fantastic lunch at Crotto dei Platani a gourmet restaurant that you’ll never forget.

By Train

From the center of Milan, there are many trains that reach Como or Varenna for example. If you stop by the big city it’s a possibility to consider since is very cheap as well.
Milan to Varenna is just 1 hour by train. (tickets and info here)

---

LAKE COMO ELOPEMENT PACKAGES

What’s included in each package:

– 3hr, 5hr & Full-day photography packages
– All my help to find vendors that will fit your style
– An online slideshow with music in the background to enjoy and share with your friends
– Download link of high-resolution photos (all retouched to perfection) in four weeks.
– All travel fees & taxes included!

Packages Starting at €1200

---

LAKE COMO ELOPEMENT ADVICE

/ – 1 – /
Don’t lose the opportunity to have a boat tour in Lake Como. The point of view is absolutely unique. You are pampered by the water and the mountains embrace you. You are so close to some villas that you can touch them. You see the Italian gardens with people walking and enjoying the sun of Italy.
Do yourself a present, you deserve it.

/ – 2 – /
Visit Villa del Balbianello. There is no another Villa del Balbianello in the world like there isn’t another Venice. It’s stunning, unique. It’s pure art on earth. Movie directors, lovers, and photographers fell in love with it. For one reason, it’s The Villa in Lake Como.

/ – 3 – /
Check sunset hour at your location. Due to the mountains so close to the lake in some locations the sunset starts one hour earlier (the sun goes behind by the mountains). That’s not a bad thing because you have more warm and soft light, but it’s good to know that when you schedule the time of the ceremony :-).

/ – 4 – /
Local food and wine? “Forget about it!” 😋